Improvement in continuous distillation and apparatus therefor



3 Sheets-Sheet l.

S. VAN SYCKEL. CONTINUOUS DISTILLATION AND APPARAT-U THEREFOR.

Patent 6. May 2Z;18'77;

E [1 FL. 5% MM N. PETERS, PHUTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, p C.

s Sheets-Sheet z.

s. VAN SYCKEL.

CONTINUOUS DIS'IILLATION AND APPARATUS THEREFOR.

Pa'tented Ma 22, 187-7.

N o.191.Z03.

V 3 Sheets-Sheet?) S. VAN SY-CKEL.

CONTINUOUS DISTILLATION AND APPARATUS THEREFOR. v

No. 191,203, Patented May 22, 1877.

MIL [BEER gag M SAMUEL VAN SYGKEL, .OE, TITUSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN CONT'INUOUS"DISTILILATION AND 'APPARA'T USTHEREFO'R.

Specification forming part of Letters Paient No. 18%;;03, dated May 22, 1877; appliratim .liled February .12, 1 877.

To. all whom it may concern .Be it known that I, SAMUEL VANSYOKEL,

isa horizontal section of the. governor,.con-.

denser, and stills. Fig. 4 is asectional .view of a portionof the vertical condenser arranged on the gasoline-tank.

rLike letters refer to like parts wherever they occur.

My invention relates especially. tothe continuous. distillation of, .petroleum-oils,.but embracescertainprinciples. in the construction and operation of the apparatusequally appli' cable to thedistillation of spirits-or todistil- .lation generally.

In the method of distillation thetseverat points may be stated as follows :..First, maintaining a, .uniform andgraduated .bodyofoil in theseries of stills, and zheatingv the-contents of the still evenly throughout, so that continuous distillation is conducted without variable .or excessive temperatures secondly, in transferring the liquid. from stillto still in such. a manner that the liquid attains .thetemperature of the succeeding stillbeforeit is mingled with the contents of. said still, and. indelivering the liquid into the receiving-still ata point near the surface of the oil in the still, so-that any vapors or gas formed in the transit may escape without disturbing. the contents of the receiving-still and, thirdly, in conducting the .distillation in the primary or crude-oillstill so as to vaporize so muchot'its contentsias shall bring the oil to the requisite lire-test, and insurethe removalof the benziue, gasoline, and light products, those of 80 Baum and.under .being condensed and returned to a still sepairately ortogether with the crude .oil, while the benzine, gasoline, &c., ma v bercondensed,

according to ,gravity, as in. fractionahldistillation.

.Iatheapparatus, the .poiuts of construction areas ,followsz. F-irst.,,-the interposition ofia governor .between the vstorage-tank 19F;- source .of supplyand.the seriesiof stills secondly, the :combination, withthe first still in .a.;series,arranged for..continuous distillation, of in. condenser. soconstructed .as to. arrest. all products of.80.Baum and uuderandtreturu the same to the primary still; thirdly,in thecom bina tion of A a series of stills. arranged for. continuous distillation, each'still of .the seriesnbeing surroundedaud traversed .by combustion-fines, wso as .to insure equal .distributionof the-heat, and the seve'ralstills. being. conneotedibyaseries of pipes, branches from which rise through the. liquid. in the receivingrstills and-deliver any gas formed. into...tl1e vapor-spaceofthe still also, in details 0f construction hereinafter specified.

I will now proceed to describe.myinvenition so that. others. skilled in therartlto which it .appertains may. apply the. same.

In the .drawings,.A represents ..a .,.gove.rnor or apparatus interposed-v between the storagetank or other-source of supply-anda seriesof stills, for the purposeof. regulating the supply of oil,-.so.as to maintain the oil inthelstillslat a.-pred etermined.height. It consists of a..tank or receiver, having an induction ori supply pipe, a,.which,connects with the storage tank, and which. may have a stopcock. withoutthe .tank for. shuttingoft' the supply. from thestorage-tank.

In that,portionof pipeza locatedwithin the governor isa stop-cock, a ,.ha.ving ,.upon .its stem a-wheel or, pulley,. a}, connected,.s by,t a rope, chain,.or. wire, toa float, afi-which latter .is controlled by a rod, to, movinguimzguides near thetop otZthegovernor-chamber. ,a'lhe rising of this float, as oil enters .thegoveruorchamber, turns .the. cock a closing the supplypipe, and, in order. toreverse the pulley afiand open the-supply pipe aweight,a is secured to the policy by a chainaor. wire, asshown. @00 indicates the exit or. discharge .pipe,.v.and.a',a pipe fordischarging any-water whichmayaccumulate. B representsthe primary orcrudeoil still of the series, at one end of. which are arranged grates b, or a combustion-chamber,

from which one set of fines, I), pass to the sides of the still, and a second set, b traverse the lower part of the still, the two uniting with or delivering into a rear fiue, b whence the products of combustion escape by return fines b, which traverse the upper part of the still, and thence, by fine b to the usual stack.

It will be seen the fines are so arranged as to apply the heat uniformly and regularly to the oil to be evaporated. In order, however, to control the direction of the products of combustion at pleasure a set of dampers, b guard the points of communication between the side and rear fines, so that all or any part of the products may be turned through fines 6 The lower part of still B is divided into two chambers, B B by a vertical plate or or partition, B, one of said chambers, B being the receiving-chamber, and communicating, by means of pipe B, with the governor A; the other chamber, B connecting, by means of discharge-pipe B, with the second still 0 of the series. B is a discharge pipe for drawing off any water which accumulates in the bottom of the still-chamber where the oil first enters.

D is a cylindrical continuation of the dome, which is preferably extended up for twenty or thirty feet, and from which the vapors from the still are conducted off through a series of small pipes, 01, surrounded by a water-jacket, ti the pipes d and 01 being arranged in bends, as shown, and constituting a condenser. From the first two or more sections of the condens: er discharge-pipes d d conduct off the condensed matter, which will usually be products of 80 Baum and under, mixed with water, the pipes 01 d uniting to form a pipe, d, which conducts or returns the product to the receiving-chamber B of the still B, the water being trapped off into tank W by means of branchpipe 10. The condenser is enlarged by the addition of sections as desired, and the light products over 80 Banm are conducted, by pipes d d, to one or more gasoline-tanks, G, suitably placed.

G indicates a gasoline-tankconnected to the condenser by its receivingpipe d and furnished with escape pipes g, for the non condensable gases, said pipes 9 being surrounded by a water-jacket, G. The jacket G receives its water-supply at and delivers it, at g to the jacket d through which it flows toward the still, and is discharged at a point' near dome or cylinder D. By this means the cooling-liquid is lowest at the desired point, namely, where the uncondensable gases are escaping. Across the mouth of the escapepipes g is arranged a steam-jet, s, for dissipating the gases or for forcing them into the furnaces through suitable pipes, the latter action being preferable, as thereby the fires in the fur-' nace are kept uniformly burning without additional expense for fuel. If preferred, a pump or fan-blower may be employed instead of the jet 8.

0 represents the second still of the series employed by me, and which is of the usual cylindrical form arranged horizontally. G is the furnace or combustion-chamber, separated from the still by a bridge-wall, perforated opposite the; center of the still and at the sides, to permit the escape of products of combustion. c are side fines which connect with end fines by openings, which may or may not be provided with dampers; and, in order to facilitate the equal heating of the liquid in the still, a central flue, c, of cylindrical (or like desirable) form is arranged within the still and connected to the combustion-chamber and rear flue a by contracted openings. By such construction of fiue c the the products of combustion are allowed to expand within the flue, a greater heating-surface is obtained, and the escape of the products of combustion is retarded. The rear or end fine c! communicates with the discharge-flue c by means of return fines 0 which traverse the still at points sufficiently above the drumflue 0 to leave room for properly cleaning the still.

0 indicates a tar or sediment drum, secured to or formed on the lowest point of the still, and, if desired, provided with a man-hole and a dischargepipe, 0 the latter being employed for connecting O with E when more than two stills are employed. 0 is the inletpipe for connecting still 0 with the crude-oil still. It enters the still at or near its lowest point, rises through the liquid in the still, and terminates in a worm, 'w just below the surface. It is provided with perforated branches w which permit the vapors formed to escape into the vapor-space of the still, while the oil is discharged at the end of the pipebelow the level of the oil in the still.

From the dome of the still a series of short pipes or goose-necks, 1w, conduct the vapors into a jacket, 0 through which pass a series of water-tubes, thus forming a condensinghead. The vapors pass from jacket 0 through the series of pipes to, which lead to the condenser. From still 0 a discharge or exit pipe, (3 leads to the next still E of the series.

At this point I will state that as continuous distillation is generally conducted, the two stills before described will suffice; but in my process I usually employ a third still.

E represents the'third still, which may be a cylindrical still, or square, as shown, is provided with a furnace, E, a perforated bridgewall, side fiues 6, rear fine c and a series of direct and return fines, 0 e which traverse the still, by meansof which the oil is divided up and effectually heated. E is the induction-pipe, which connects this still withthe former still of the series. It rises to a point just below the vapor-space, and terminates in a branch, it, provided with perforated vapordischarge tubes t. E indicates the gooseneck, which delivers into drum E, through which pass the water-pipes e supplied from the water-jacket E of the condenser pertaining to this still. E is the discharge-pipe of still E. This still is constructed and operates upon the same principles as stills O of the series.

The operation of my devices is as follows The governor A having been properly placed between the supply-tank and the crude oil or primary still, with its discharge-pipe a at such an elevation as will maintain the requisite height of oil in the still, the communication between the governor and storage-tank is opened, and the oil rises in the governorchamber until the rising of the float turns the pulley a? and closes cock a cutting off the supply. The oil passes from the governor through pipe a to the chamber B of still B, thence over partition B until the still has received its charge. As the oil escapes by the discharge-pipe a of the governor, the float a sinks, and weight a reverses pulley a opening stop-cock a, which is again closed by the rising of the float. As the still draws on the oil in the governor the float descends, and by the rise and fall of the float the amount of liquid entering the still is regulated. The furnaces of still B being properly fired, the products of combustion escape by flues b b l) 1) b the dampers are manipulated to cause more or less of the products to pass through the flues which traverse the still, and the oil in the still, which is divided up by the lines and presented in sheets, is heated on all sides, thus insuring uniform distillation.

It will be observed that no heat is'applied to the bottom of the stills. The still B is raised to 300 or 350 Fahrenheit, and a large portion of its contents-say from one-third to onehalf-is vaporized, so as to insure the disengaging of non-condensable gases and the driving off of all light products. By such a procedure some of the heavier products will be vaporized; but much of this will be condensed in the high dome D and fall back, while the remainder will be condensed in the first part of the condenser, together with some water and such heavy gasoline and benzine as does not exceed Baum, and will be returned to the still by tubes d d d, the water being trapped out into tank W by pipe to. The lighter products, ranging and Baum, are condensed in the distant coils of the condenser, and are received into tank G or separate tanks, according to grade, as preferred, while the non-condensable gases are drawn off by steam-jet or otherwise, and delivered to the furnace or allowed to escape into the air. The distillate of 80 Baume and under, it will be perceived, is thus returned to that side of the partition in still B which receives the crude oil, and is redistilled with the light products of each quantity of crude oil admitted.

By this method of proceeding I get rid of all non -condensable gases and much light product, which it has heretofore been found impossible to fully separate from the heavier products in the still.

specified for still 0.

may be conducted in the manner it is usually The crude oil which enters still B of about 47 Baum, is brought to the fire-test, and, es caping into the chamber B leaves still B at from 41 to 42 Baum by pipe B is conducted through the body of the oil in still 0, and discharged into the same just below the surface, the gases and vapors escaping into the vapor-space of the still through the small branches 20 The oil or liquid in still 0 has been raised to 400 or 500 Fahrenheit, and the liquid or oil from B gradually reaches the temperature of the oil in this still as it enters through pipe so that when it is discharged any vapor formed escapes at once into the dome of 0, while the oil mingles with the oil in the still without reducing its temperature or causing any commotion in the still. Any sediment or tarry matters contained in the oil will sink into chamber 0 below the fire-space and fines, and can be readily drawn OK.

In ordinary continuous distillation the oil is finally stilled in the last-named still, the residuum being drawn 011' to a tar-still for coking, and, if desired, my series may stop here, and the distillation conducted in the usual manner.

But in order to work rapidly and obtain the best results, the temperature of still 0 is kept at the point above stated, and the contents of the still reduced to 26 or 28 Baum, (when in the ordinary process the still would become sick and require urging,) and is then transferred to still E, the oil in which is at about 600 Fahrenheit, acquiring the temperature of said still, and being delivered from tubes (3 and E into the still E, in like manner as In still E the distillation conducted in the last still of the series, the temperature being raised, lowered, and varied as indicated by the distillate. Each still of the series will, of course, be provided with a suitable condenser, which may be of any approved form.

In describing the process, I have spoken of the oil as transferred from still to still, but it is not intended thereby to indicate an intermittent action, as the oil or other liquid passes continuously and regularly from still to still, the heavier oil in each still sinking to the bottom of its respective still and passing continuously by the exit-pipe to the succeeding still of the series.

The advantages arising from my improved method and apparatus are that the process of distillation is conducted at a moderate and uniform temperature, which insures'botter results or quality of products and less loss on conversion into tarry matters, and all uncondensable gases are driven ofl.

In a condenser of the construction shown, viz., a flue-condenser, which consists of a tube of small diameter, and a number of small tubes extending through it from head to head, and provided with water supply and discharge pipes which supply a running current of water through the condenser, great advantage is derived. The old condenser had. a. still body of water, and it took along time to 'condense, but with the small vessel and continuous swiftly-flowing current the vapors are condensed very rapidly. I do not herein claim the principle of con- 1 struction, or the specific construction, of stills- O and E, the same being the subject-matter of" another application of even date herewith; but

Having thusdescribed my invention, what I claim, and desire to. secure by Letters Pat.- ent, is-

1. The process herein described for distil-v ling hydrocarbon oils, which consists in heatin g the contents of the still uniformly throughout, and delivering the oil to bedistilledinto. the chamber near the surface of? the contained oil, after the incoming oil has acquired the temperature of the body of oil in the; still, whereby the body of the oil in the. still remains undisturbed, and the distillation may be conducted-atlow temperatures, substantially as specified.

2. In the continuous distillation; of hydro carbon oils, the process for removing light:

. products and uncondensable gases herein described, which consists in vaporizing from one-third to one-half of the contents of; the crude-oil still, and condensing and returning to. said still all. of the distillate below 80 Baum, substantially as specified.

3. The combination, with the primary or crude-oil still having the vertical partition, of a seriesof stills, the whole arranged for continuous distillation, the governor or'regulator interposed between the still and the storage or supply tank, whereby only the heayier products pass to the succeeding stills, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. In a system of stills arranged forcontinuous distillation, the combination of two or por into the vapor-spaces and the oil below the surface of" the oil of the respective stills,

. substantially as and for-thepu-rpose specified.

5. The combination, with the crude-oil still, of the condenser, the return -pipe, and the water-trap arranged on the return-pipe, sub

stantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. The combination of the condenser, the

gasoline-tan k and vertical condenser arranged thereon, and the steam-jet, with. the primary still, substantially as and. for the purpose:

specified. Z.v The still B, provided with induction: and;

delivery pipes, and divided by a vertical par tition: or diaphragm into. receiving and discharging chambers, substantially as and for the purposelspecified.

In testimony whereof I, the said SAMUEL .AN SYCKEL,.h3.V6:h6l6l1-Ylt0 set my hand.

SAMUEL VAN SYOKEL.

Witnesses:

JAMES L KAY, F. W.. BITTER, Jr- 

